Ceramic block cutting apparatus and process



C:` A. FRY E1' AL 1,828,462

CERAMIC BLOCK CUTTING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Nov. l. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ocr. 2o, 1931.

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CERAMIC BLOCK CUTTING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Nov. 1. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cet. 20, 1931. c. A. FRY E'rAl.

CERAIIC BLOCK CUTTING APPARATUS AND PROCESS 4 Sheets-Sheer 3 Filed Nov. 1. 1930 WIW ab MMM aah. hrw! UWG fw. 3V

Oct. 20, 11931. c. A. FRY E1- AL 1,828,462

CERAMIC BLOCK CUTTING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed Nov. l. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n [1|k l.

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Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES CHARLES A. FRY, CLARENCE HAnsH, AND RALPH ivr. sCHoR-Y, oF MINERVA,omo,` As sIGNoRs To THE METROPOLITAN rAvINGBLRICH- COMPANY, oFCANToN, oHIo, A

CORPORATIONA 0F OHIO i CERAMIC BLOCH CUTTING APrARA'rUs Aivnrnoonssj j Appiiqauon lea Nvember 1j, 1930.A serial No. 492,784.

The invention relates to apparatus for making ceramic products, and more particularly to cutting apparatus'ormachinery for use in making Van angular, irregular, or rabbeted 5 corner or cut of predetermined length and depth in ceramic Ware such as hollow-block,

brick, or tile and the like.` 1

Hollow-blocksare frequently used in constructing a back-upwall for abrick Wall, and

l0 for thisA purpose the blocks must be provided with notches or rabbeted corners so that the same Will interlock with the brickA header courses, in order to tie the brickfvvall and hollow-blocker tile Wall together. f i5 Hollow-blocks may readilybe formed with rabbeted corners Which extend parallel with the block cells, on the usual clay column forming machine; but suchhollovv-block construction requiresthe block cells to be horizontally disposedl When the same are used as header back-up blocks for brick Walls. Y

It is preferable, for drainage and other purposes, to locate the block'cells in a- Verticalposition when hollow-blocks are used as 5 header back-up blocks for brick Walls. In

such cases, the rabbeted cornersmust be located at right angles With respect to the block cells, and such 'rabbeted `corners cannot be formed on the usual clay column forming ma- 30 chines. In the past, when it has been necessary to provide such rabbeted corners, Ythe same has been accomplished by cutting out by hand the corners o-f green hollow-blocks produced by the usual clay-forming machine.

It is therefore an object of the present iini vention to provide a cutting machine for producing a rabbeted corner in previously `Aformed ceramic products.

A further object of the present invention is to greatly reduce the time, labor and expense required for providing rabbeted corners in previouslyv formed ceramic products, as com- .r pared vvith present hand methods.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to `provide a machine for cutting rabbeted corners inpreviously formed ceramic Ware Which maybe readily, quickly and easily adjusted'to make vany length, depth and angularity of ra-bbeted corner;

Withpresent hand methods of providing ing blocks/are not uniform, and the rabbeted corners thereof are irregular and imperfect. Accordingly, it is a further object ofthe Y presentv invention to provide a machinefor expensive construction, and Which may be readily quickly and easily adjustediand operated Theseand other objects may be attained by providing ceramic block cutting-apparatus, preferred embodiments of which Vare shown inthe accompanying drawings and .described in detail, and which may be stated Y in general terms as including a table, a ceramic Ablock guidevvay,"frame mounted for reciprocating movement With respect to the ,'table,a cutting Wirecarried by the frame,

yielding means for normally maintaining the frame in raised position to normally hold the Y. 4-Wireat a predetermined location spacedfrom the table, 4means, for adjusting the normal raised position of the; frame for adjusting the normal location of theiwire with respect Vtothe table, preferably continuously moving means for reciprocating the frame, releasable clutch or latch means for engaging the mov- C ing means operatively "with respect to the frame for-reciprocating the frame to move the wire toward the tab-le, trip means actuated -by 'a Ceramic block moved .substantially horizontally of the Wire for 1operating,the

by one person for the quantity pro-. i duction of ceramic Ware having. rabbeted corners. Y

5e rabbeted corners in ceramic Ware, the result- Y clutch, and means for adjusting the position of the trip with respect to the wire.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved apparatusy looking toward the front end thereof with certain parts broken away and in section for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts just after a block has been horizontally cut or slit by the cutting wire; Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing theposition of the parts after a vertical cut or slit has been made in a block by the cutting wire;

Fig. 5 is a plan section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 6 is a plan section taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved apparatus looking in the direction of the arrows 7 7, Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the cutting wire supports looking in the direction of the arrows 9 9, Fig. l; i

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of apparatus including pusher mechanism for the blocks being rabbeted;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a green hollow-block before being operated on by the improved apparatus; y

Fig. 12 is a prespective view of a green hollow-block after having had its corner rabbeted by operation of the improved apparatus;

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 diagrammatically illustrate blocks having corner notches of dii'lierentlengths and depths cut therein by the improved apparatus; and

Fig. 17 to 22, inclusive, diagrammatically illustrate various forms of notched or rabbeted corners which may be cut in hollowblocks by the improved apparatus by utiliz* ing the special base block shown 1in Figs. 17 and 18; i

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. y

The improved ceramic block cutting apparatus indicated generally at 25, preferably includes a table 26, mounted onV legs 27, by angles 28, the floor engaging ends of the legs being joined together by angles 29.

A plurality of sets of spaced rabbeted guide bars 30, are mounted on the table 26, by angle brackets 31, and extend through apertures 32 provided in the table 26. A wire holder and cutter frame generally indicated at 33 is mounted for reciprocating movement with respect to the table 26 and includes preferably H-sectioned bar members 34 and l 34 slidably mounted between the spaced rabbeted guide bars 30.

The lower ends of the slidable bar members 34, 34 are connected together by a lower cross bar 35. Spring mounting rods 36 eX- tend downward from the table 26 through apertures 37, provided in the ends of the lower cross bar 35, and have compression springs 28 mounted thereon, reacting against the lower cross bar 35 to normally urge the same upwards.

Adjusting screws 39 are threaded through the lower cross bar 35 and maintained in any desired adjusted position by lock nut-s 40. The upper ends 39 of the adjusting screws 39 engage the lower surface of the table 26 for limiting the upward movement of the bar members 34, 34 by the action of the springs 38. By adjustment of the screws 39, the upward limit of movement of the bar members 34, 34 may be changed.

The upper ends of the bar members 34, 34 are connected together by a plurality of upper cross bars 41 which complete the formation of the frame 33. A cutting wire spool 42, provided with a ratchet 43, and pawl 44, is journaled at 45, between the outer ends 41', of the upper cross bars 41.

The cutting wire tensioning lever 46, is pivoted at 47 between the other outer ends 41" `of the upper cross bar 41, and is normally urged outwardly by the compression spring 48, carried by a stub rod 49 mounted on the bar member 34 and extending through an elongated aperture 50 provided in the ten sioning lever 46.

A cut-ting wire 51 has one end wrapped aroundthe spool 42, then passes through an aperture 52 provided in the bar member 34.

The wire 51 is then engaged on the V-notched Athrough an aperture 54 provided in the bar member 34 and has its other end looped over the hook end 46 of the cutting wire tensioning lever 46.

.The slack in the cutting wire may be taken up by rotating the spool 42 and setting the pawl 44, whereby the cutting wire 51 will be stretched taut between its supports 53, by the action of the spring pressed tensioning lever 46. Y

A :plunger bar or piston 54 is slidably mounted in the guide block 55 carried by the upper cross bars 41, and is normally continuously reciprocated by the connecting rod 56, mountedon the crank pin 57, carried by the disk 58, provided on the shaft 59, which is continuously rotated by any suitable source of power not shown. i

The lower end of the plungerbar or piston v54 is normally free to reciprocate between the spacedupper cross bars 41 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A plurality of stub rods 60 project outner end 62o` the clutch `member 62 is slidably mounted in4 thev cross guide 63 provided in the guide block 55.

Al block guideway 64, yhaving Yupright flanges 65, is mounted by angles 66 on the table 26; and the guideway 64 and flanges 65 Athereof extend crosswise `of thecutting wire andare vertically severed at 67, as shown in Figs.` 2 and6, to'permit the cutting wire 51 to move toward and away from the table 26 freely of the guideway. v' f j Channel members 68 extend upwardly from thetable 26, to provide a mounting for4 a stop frame indicated generally at 69. The stop Vframe 69 is composed of upright Vbars 70 and cross bars 71 adjustably mounted on the upright channels 68 by elongated bolts 72 and nuts 73. Adjustment of the bolts -72 and nuts 7 3permits the stop frame cross bars 7l .to loe-'adjusted toward or away from the cutting wire 5l; y

L A trip Vframe cross `bar74 is provided with laterally extending rods 75, slidably mounted in apertures provided in the upright bars 70 and Vchannel .i members 68.` Compression springs 76Vare mounted on the rods 75, reacting between the upright channels V68 Vand shoulders 77, to normally urge the trip frame toward and in contact with the stop frame upright .bars 70. A trip bar 78 is mounted `on bosses 7 9, carried by thetrip frame cross bar 74, in spaced relation rearwardly of the cross bar-74. p' A clutch operating trip lever l8O is pivotally mounted at 81 on a bracket 82 carried by lthe upper stop frame cross bar 7l. One end of the lever 8O is provided with an elongated slot 82', engaging a pin 83, provided on the ear 84 projecting outwardly from and carried by the trip frame cross loar 74. l/Vhenthe trip lever is in normal position, its upper end is located in a position slightly spaced away from the downturned flange of the L-shaped latch or clutch member 62,.as shown in Fig. 2. i

The operation of the apparatus for cutting Y Yrabbeted corners in green hollow-blocks produced by the usual clay forming machine is as follows K A green hollow-block indicated at A is pushed into the guideway 64-65 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The front .end of the block A strikes the vcutting wire the bloclruntil movement ofthe block ceases when it has ,reached the position shown in 'Meanwhile, the uppe'rportionof the front endoi the bloclr after moving past the cutting membercontacts with the trip bar 78 which-is normallyv in the position shown in Fig. 2 of` the drawings, and further movement of the block moves the trip bar 78 against the tension of the springs 76, to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,

when further forward movement of the block A is stopped by contact oftheront end of the block with the stop `framevcross bars 71.

At the salne time, the pin 83 carried by the ear 84 of the trip ramecross bar 74, has been -moved outwardly to actuate the trip operating` lever 8O about its pivot point 81 so that its upper end 85 contacts with the .downturned flange of the L-shaped latch or clutch member V62 to press the latch or clutch member 62 inwardly in its cross guide 63, against the tension of the spring 61, to interpose the inner end of the latch or clutch member 62 in the path of the continuously reciprocating plunger bar or `piston 54, so that all of the parts instantaneously assume the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The nent downward reciprocation the piston 54 engagesV the latch memberl 621carried by the wire holder and cutter frame 33 to move the trame 33 downward, so that the cutting wire 51 carried thereby is moved downwardly toward the table 26 from its Vnormal stationary position until it just contacts with the table, thereby cutting a cross slit b laterally oi' the block A in another direction with respect to the slit a as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

After the piston 54 has just completeda downward reciprocation, the various parts are in position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. v f y During upward movement ot the piston 54, the springs 38 move the cutter frame 33 back to its normal stationary position shown in Figs. land `2 of the drawings, and at the `same time the block A, which has had a rabbeted corner notched or cut out provided thereinis removed from `the table 26 and guideway 64.-65, thereby releasing the trip bar 7 8 so that the trip springs 7 6 move the trip frame and trip lever 80 back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to release the latch or clutch member 62. y

The springs 6l move the latch member 62 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and2f`so that further reciprocationot the piston 54 will not move the cutter framerdownward, untilI another block A has been introduced in the guideway 64-65 and actuated the clutch trip mechanism.

A green hollow-block A havingca'usuaI shape is shown in Fig. 11 before being operatedV ou in the cutting apparatus," while the same "block A is shown in Fig. 12 afterhaving been notched in thecutting `apparatus to -form a rabbeted corner c therein.`

Various sizes of rabbeted corners c may be cut in hollow-blocks A, as shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, by adjusting the bolts 72 and nuts 73 to vary the distance between the stop frame cross bars 71 and the cutting wire 51, for varying the lengths Z of the notches c; and by adjusting the screws 39 and lock nuts 4() to vary the normal stationary position of the cutting wire 51 with respect to the table 26, for varying the depths d of the rabbeted corners c.

It may be desirable to form rabbeted corners in ceramic blocks having one or more faces which are not parallel with or perpendicular to the faces of the block. This may be accomplished by providing a tapered base plate 90 on which a block A is placed before being pushed into the guideway 6er-65 of the cutting apparatus, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 17 and 18.

When the base plate 90 is used in the position shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings, a rabbeted corner c', such as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 19, is produced having faces neither of which are parallel with any faces of the block A.

lVhen the base plate 90 is used in the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 18 of the drawings, the rabbeted corner such as shown at c in Fig. 20 is produced in the block A.

It may sometimes be desirable to provide rabbeted corners such as shown at c3 or ce, in Figs. 21 and 22 of the drawings, in which case, the base plate 90 may be utilized while the faces a3 or a4 are made angular with respect to the lower face of the block. The base plate 90 is then removed for making transverse faces b3 or b4 perpendicular to the lower face of the block.

In the modified form of apparatus shown in Fig. 10, block pusher mechanism indicated generally at 91 is provided which includes an L-shaped pusher cradle 92 on which the block is placed. The cradle 92 is slidably mounted between flanges 93 and 94 on the table extension 26". Channel shaped clips 95 are provided connecting the edge portions of the flanges 93-94 together, and the clips 95 have pintles 96 projecting outwardly therefrom.

Bell cranks 97, pivotally mounted at 98, are operatively connected by their elongated slots 99 with the pintles 96. The bell cranks may be rotated about their pivot points 98 in the direction shown by the arrow to push the cradle 92 toward the cutting wire 51, by depressing the foot lever 100, pivoted at 101, and connected by a link 102 with the bell cranks 97.

lA spring 103 may be provided for raising the foot lever 100 to withdraw the cradle 92 from its depressed positionv shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

Accordingly, a simplified apparatus is provided for readily, quickly and easily cutting rabbeted cornersof any` desired length, depth and singularity. in ceramic blocks such as hollow-block, brick, tile and the like.

Broadly, these rabbeted corners are formed by maintaining theV cutting wire stationary and'moving a block against the cutting wire, and Athen by maintaining the block stationary and moving the cutting wire through the block.

1. The method of forming rabbeted` corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like by the use of a cutting member, which includes maintaining the cutting member stationary and moving a portion of a block past the cutting member so that the cutting member severs a portion of the block, .then maintaining the block stationary and moving the cutting member through the block.

2. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the `apparatus including a cutting mem ber movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, and yielding means normally maintaining the cutting member at the stationary position.

v3. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-Wise thereof, drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and to the stationary position, and yielding means normally maintaining the cutting member at the stationary position.

l. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-Wise thereof, and drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and to the stationary position, the drive means being actuated by a portion of a block moving past the cutting member, and yielding means normally maintaining the cutting member at the stationary position.

5. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and to the stationary position, and yielding means normally maintaining the cutting member at the stationary position. Y

6. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners andthe like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, drive means for moving, the cutting member, and clutch means between the drive means and the cutting member. i

7. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable fromV and to a stationary position, block guideV means at one side ofthe cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, drive means for moving the cutting member, and clutch means between the drive means and the cutting member, the clutch means being actuatedforl engaging the drive means with the cutting member by a portion. of a block moving past the cutting member.

8. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including-a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, and means for moving a portion of a block past the cutting member.

9. Apparatus forrforming rabbeted cor-V ners and the like inceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationaryposition, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise there of, drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and tothe stationary position., and means for moving a portion of a. block past the cutting member.

10. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, and drive means for intermittent-ly moving the cutting member from and to the stationary position, the drive means being actuated by a portion of a block moving past the cutting member, and means for moving a portion of the block past the cutting member.

11. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and to the stationary position, and means .for moving a portion of a block past the cutting memben 12. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cuttingmember movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending Vcross-wiseV thereof, yielding means normallymaintaining the cutting member. at the stationary position, and `means for moving a portionV of'a block4 4past the Acutting member.

13.,Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the likein ceramic .blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting'member movable from and to a stationary position', block guide means at one sideof the cutting fmember ,and extendingV cross-Wise thereof, drive means for intermittently mov-1 ing thecuttingmember Vfrom and to the stationaryV position, yielding means normally maintaining the cuttingl member at the stationary position, and means for moving a portion of a block past the cutting member.

14. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, and drive means for intermittently moving the cutting member from and'to the stationary position, the drive means being actuated by a portion of a block moving past the cutting member, yielding means normally maintaining the cutting member at the stationary position, and means for moving a portion of the block past the cutting member.

15. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and to a stationary position, drive means for intermittently moving the cuttingmember from andto the stationary i and the cutting member, and means for mov-Y Y ing a portion of a block past the cutting member. c

17. Apparatus for forming rabbeted corners and the like in ceramic blocks and the like, the apparatus including a cutting member movable from and toa stationary position, block guide means at one side of the cutting member and extending cross-wise thereof, drive means for moving the cutting member, and clutchvm'eans between the drive means and the cutting member, the clutch means being actuated for engaging the drive means with the cutting member by a portion of a block moving past the cutting member, and means for moving a portion of the block past the cutting member.

18. The method of forming rabbeted corv 11ers and thelike in ceramic blocks andthe like by the use of a cutting member, which includes moving a portion of a block in one direction past the cutting member so that the cutting member severs a portion of the block, 5 and then maintaining the block stationary and moving the cutting member through the block in another direction.

In testimony that We claim the above, We have hereunto subscribed 'our names. i0 CHARLES A. FRY.

CLARENCE HARSH. RALPH M. SCHORY. 

